Athletes of the Week

Athletes of the Year, 2022

Eva Brandt

Century

Volleyball, Basketball

Aiden Neal

Manchester Valley

Track & Field

Athlete of the Week - May 25th, 2022

Jenna Evans

Liberty

Lacrosse

Jenna was a key defender and tremendous leader as the Lions girls lacrosse team returned to the state title game for the second year in a row. The junior is known for dominating in the draw circle, and she did just that in convincing post-season victories over South Carroll, CMIT, and Southern.

Athlete of the Week - May 18th, 2022

Logan Haines

Manchester Valley

Track & Field

Logan Haines took golds in the 100m, 200m, 4 x 200 relay, and 4 x 400 relay at the County Track & Field Championships. The junior’s performance helped Manchester Valley capture the boys team title.

Aiden Neal

Manchester Valley

Track & Field

Mavericks senior Aiden Neal set a new county meet record, finishing first in the 1600m run in 4:19. He also took first place in the 800m, 3200m, and 4 x 400 relay, as Manchester Valley took home the boys championship at the annual County Track & Field Meet.

Athlete of the Week - May 11th, 2022

Shannon McTavish

South Carroll

Lacrosse

Shannon McTavish is a midfielder for the Cavaliers girls lacrosse team. She had a combined 7 goals and 3 assists, surpassing the 100-point mark for her career. The junior captain also had 10 draw controls to give her 100 for the season, a new school record.

Athlete of the Week - May 4th, 2022

Leah Miller

South Carroll

Lacrosse

South Carroll freshman Leah Miller uncorked a big week offensively for the Cavaliers girls lacrosse team, leading the two victories. Against FSK Leah had 6 goals, 3 assists, and 5 draw controls. And she added 5 more goals and 2 assists in a win over Smithsburg.

Gene Magin

Manchester Valley

Baseball

Man Valley’s Gene Magin plays shortstop and pitcher for the Mavs baseball squad, and had quite a week in both roles. Against Century he was 3-for-4 with a solo home run and 3 RBIs. Two days he was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored against Key. And then the sophomore followed that up with two triples and three runs scored in a 2-for-3 performance against Winters Mill. 7-for-11 at the plate, a red-hot .636 average for the week.

Daphnee Whitmore

Wesminster

Tennis

Sophomore Daphnee Whitmore won all three matches at first singles last week for the Owls girls tennis team, beating FSK 6-love, 6-love; Century 6-1, 6-3; and Liberty 6-4, 6-4. Despite being a sophomore, she’s already been named one of the Owls’ captains in her second season on the varsity. Owls coach Jen Ruppert says Daphnee is a very disciplined student-athlete

Athlete of the Week - April 27th, 2022

Hannah Zabik

Century

Softball

The Century softball team is now 8-1 on the season, with victories in four Carroll County Athletic League contests last week. Senior captain Hannah Zabik was at the heart of it all – she was 9-for-14, batting .640 with 8 RBIs and a slugging percentage of .930. She also stole 2 bases, scored 8 runs, and hit a walk-off double to beat SC. Hannah was also the starting pitcher in three of those wins, going the distance, and striking out 26 of the 102 batters she faced. Coach Kim Perdue calls her a fantastic teammate and dependable captain as she closes in on 100 strikeouts for the season. The Knights softball squad now stands at 8-1 with a firm grip on their county title hopes.

Sarah Gassman

Westminster

Track & Field

Westminster’s Sarah Gassman covered multiple track & field events at the Owls’ Jamboree #2 held at Ruby Field. She took second in the 100 hurdles, 3rd in the triple jump, and ran a leg on the 2nd place 4x400 relay squad. But in her top event, the pole vault she cleared 11’3” to set a new county and school record, one that had stood for 9 years.

Patrick Haynes

Westminster

Track & Field

At the same meet the Owls’ Patrick Haynes won the long jump with a county season-best 20-foot effort, won the triple jump going 39’7” and took first in the 200m dash with a time of 23.75 seconds. Add in his third place finish in the 400m dash and you get a team-high 28 points, with the Owls boys squad scoring a season-high 177.5 points, 100 points better than anybody else.

Kevin Connor

Manchester Valley

Lacrosse

Manchester Valley senior Kevin Connor had a fantastic week in goal for the Mavs boys lacrosse team, stopping 17 shots in a close 5-4 loss to WM, and making 20 saves against Westminster to tie a school record. Mavs coach John Piper says the defense is built around Kevin.

Athlete of the Week - April 20th, 2022

Lauren Hackett

Century

Lacrosse

The Knights girls lacrosse team remains undefeated, ranked #7 in the area, and they maintained that spotless record with a number of tough matchups last week – and Lauren led the way. A senior playing attack, she combined for 13 goals and 5 assists. Century took down previously undefeated Man Valley 13-8, 3 goals, 2 assists, and 4 groundball controls from Lauren – and then 3 more goals, 3 assists, and 4 groundballs in a big win over Catonsville. Next came the Tournament of Champions, a Saturday affair featuring three state champions from last year. First the Knights defeated #3 Broadneck, the undefeated 4A champs from last year, and then they knocked off rival Liberty, the defending 1A champs 11-9, Lauren leading the way to a tournament victory with five goals.

Athlete of the Week - April 13th, 2022

Emma Tawney

Francis Scott Key

Softball

The FSK softball team went 2-1 on the week, with victories over Westminster & Brunswick, and a loss to Boonsboro. And sophomore Emma Tawney had a remarkable week at the plate, batting .636, and was perfect in the field with 15 total chances and no errors committed. Emma was 7-for-11 with a triple, 3 doubles, 3 singles, 2 walks, 5 runs scored, and 6 RBIs – she showed solid power. Emma’s been in the sport since the age of 8, and says her favorite part of the season so far was the Eagles win over last year’s county champion South Carroll.

Anna Hackett

Century

Lacrosse

Anna Hackett unloaded for the undefeated Century girls lacrosse team. She had back-to-back 8-goal games in a pair of Knights victories. She scored 8 times on 8 shots as Century shutout Aberdeen 25-0, adding 2 assists, 6 draw controls and 5 groundballs. And in a 20-2 win over Patterson Mill, the senior midfielder contributed 8 more goals, 3 draw controls and 4 groundballs.

Athlete of the Week - April 6th, 2022

Emma Penczek

Manchester Valley

Lacrosse

Emma Penczek is freshman lacrosse player for the Mavericks girls team -- they went 2-0 for the week in big matchups, an 11-8 win over last year’s state runners-up Middletown, and then a 9-6 victory over last year’s state champions from Liberty. Emma led the team in both outings with 3 goals & 3 assists against the Knights and 2 goals & 3 assists against the Lions. Add in outstanding defensive play and Coach Shelly Brezicki says Emma was the difference. Emma stifled the late Liberty comeback attempt with two big takeaways, and Coach Brezicki calls her a big threat and big contributor for the Mavs.

Connor Neal and Declan McGarry

Manchester Valley

Tennis

On the tennis court, the doubles team of Connor Neal and Declan McGarry were undefeated for the week. They were victorious over teams from South Carroll and Westminster, but early in the week the Man Valley juniors were instrumental in the Mavs first-ever team win over Liberty, pulling out a match where every set went to a tie-breaker. Connor says he and Declan have been friends since the 6th grade. Now in their second season as partners, Connor & Declan started their season off at (5-0).

Willie Anye

Westminster

Track & Field

Junior Willie Anye scored a quarter of the Owls team points in the 7-team Westminster Jamboree Meet. He had personal bests in three events, taking 3rd in the high jump as he cleared 6-feet, and winning the long jump by sailing 19ft-7in, and also captured the win in the triple jump by going 38ft-5in.

Athlete of the Week - March 30th, 2022

Kylie Redman

Gerstell

Lacrosse

Kylie Redman is a senior co-captain for the Falcons girls lacrosse team. She’s already scored 32 goals this season, playing in one of the top conferences in the nation, the IAAM A conference. She scored 5 goals against Mt. de Sales, 4 against Bryn Mawr, and 4 more against the Nation’s #1 team. Kylie has been a defender all the way back to her lacrosse introduction in 6th grade, but has recently taken on the midfield role and Coach Kennedy calls her “the centerpiece of the offense”. A three-sport athlete, Kylie is headed to Jacksonville University to continue her lacrosse career at the D-1 level.

Caroline Little

Century

Lacrosse

Century’s Caroline Little is a 4-year varsity starter for the Knights girls lacrosse team, and led them to a 2-0 start. The Knights are ranked #12 in the pre-season, and began against the #11 Dulaney Lions. Caroline was a major factor in a 21-9 victory, scoring 6 goals with 2 assists and 4 draw controls. Then she added 3 goals, 2 assists, and 3 draw controls in limited action as the Knights defeated Patterson Mill 21-1. Caroline holds down a midfielder spot for the always-tough Knights.

Makenna Deane

Manchester Valley

Softball

Athlete of the Week - March 9th, 2022

Jake Boog

Manchester Valley

Wrestling

Junior Jake Boog won the state title at 152, capping off a season in which he went 43-3 with 31 pins. He now has 97 wins in his career with 65 pins, and brought home the first state wrestling championship in the history of the Mavericks’ program.

Michael Pizzuto

South Carroll

Wrestling

Junior Michael Pizzuto finished at 40-0 with 25 pins, his third undefeated season. He’s now 99-0 in his Cavs career.

Gage Owen

South Carroll

Wrestling

Gage Owen is now 94-3 in his career after a major decision and three pins secured his second state title. The junior was a perfect 38-0 with 26 pins this season at 132, and Coach Thomas says Gage is relentless.

A.J. Rodrigues

South Carroll

Wrestling

AJ Rodrigues is also a repeat state champion, and the junior says the key is approaching it like just another match. AJ had probably the marquis matchup of the tournament, meeting up in the finals at 160 with another undefeated wrestler from Stephen Decatur who was a two-time state champion. AJ broke a 1-1 tie with a takedown with only two seconds left to improve his record to 40-0. In the tournament he had 2 first period and a second period pin, giving him 27 for the season. His state tournament victory marked the 100th of his career, and Coach Thomas appreciates his all-around athleticism.

Athlete of the Week - March 2nd, 2022

Jake Hurst

Century

Wrestling

Senior Jake Hurst, the captain of the Knights wrestling squad, took home the 2A West regional title, finishing off his Oakland Mills opponent with a pin. Jake got his regional title at 132, where he’s now 9-1 after collecting a 25-7 record this season, mostly at 138.

Logan Brightful

South Carroll

Wrestling

Logan Brightful of the Cavaliers won a 1A North regional championship, getting a pin in the second period of the finals. Just a sophomore in his first year on the varsity, Logan is wrestling up two weight classes at 285.

Athlete of the Week - February 23rd, 2022

Caroline Little

Century

Basketball

Sometimes it’s difficult to quantify the impact of a top defensive performance, but last week Caroline managed to put up numbers that show her to be one of the best defenders and distributors in the county – 8 assists, 3 steals and 3 rebs against Marriotts Ridge; 4 assists, 4 steals, and 4 rebounds against Catonsville; and 6 assists, 3 steals, and 3 boards against Hereford, plus 14 combined points in the three games. Coach Danielle Fieni says in the Knights program, defense is #1

Travis Green

Manchester Valley

Wrestling

Travis Green has 27 pins and a 40-3 record after he won the 145-lb weight class at the County Wrestling Tournament from the number-3 seed. And to do it he faced some familiar, and very tough competition.

Evan Owen

South Carroll

Wrestling

In his first year he’s now 31-3 with 20 pins and a county title. He opened up the county tournament with a pin, and then won the championship with a 12-1 major decision in the finals. Evan is currently ranked #5 in the state, and #2 in Class 1A/2A – to win a county title he needed a repeat victory against another ranked wrestler who only had two losses on the season.

Athlete of the Week - February 16th, 2022

Carmaya Brown

Manchester Valley

Basketball

Carmaya is a junior, and repeat winner, a 5-11 forward for the Mavericks girls basketball team, currently ranked #9 in the Balto-Metro area. In victories over WM 49-25 and Linganore 50-29, she scored 23 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished out 5 assists and generated 8 steals.

Athlete of the Week - February 9th, 2022

Lee Seipp

Manchester Valley

Wrestling

Lee wrestled at 126 & 132 for the Mavericks last week, and what a week it was – four victories, all by pin. He got the fall against his John Carroll opponent in just 47 secs, and took down the wrestler from CM Wright in 3:07. Later that week he pinned his competition from Century in a quick 37 secs, and followed that up with 3min-12sec fall against Liberty. The junior is now a sparkling 35-4 with 24 pins on the season. Lee is ranked #15 in the state at the 126-pound weight class, and is the latest in his family to come through the wrestling program in the North Carroll area.

Athlete of the Week - February 2nd, 2022

Hannah Toth

Westminster

Indoor Track

Running at Hagerstown Community College, Hannah won two gold medals at the County Championship Meet. She ran a personal best 5:30 to win the 1600-meter race, and about an hour later posted another PR in taking the gold in the 3200 with a time of 11:53.

Ally Mathias

Francis Scott Key

Basketball

Two monster games and two Eagles victories highlighted the week – she had 13p and yanked down 18 rebs in a Key win over Liberty, and followed with 21p and 7 boards in another road win, this time against Century, with Ally dropping in 8 points in the extra frame.

Aiden Neal

Manchester Valley

Indoor Track

Won four gold medals at the County Championships. His first place performances in the 1600, 3200, 800, and 4x400 relay led the Mavericks to their first ever team county championship.

Athlete of the Week - January 26th, 2022

Summer Shackelford

Manchester Valley

Wrestling

Summer was the champion in her weight class at the Falcon Invitational Girls Tournament. She went 4-0, with 4 pins, as she defeated wrestlers from Montgomery Blair, Francis Scott Key, and the host Winters Mill. Three of Summer’s pins came quickly in the first period, and she says she’s proud of her improvement over the years.

Carmaya Bowman

Manchester Valley

Basketball

She had two phenomenal performances where her presence was felt all over the floor. The junior was instrumental in the Mavs’ 49-28 win against Tuscarora, scoring 15 pts, grabbing 9 rebs, and picking up 3 steals. And then she scored 12 pts, added 7 rebs, 3 steals, and 2 assists in a key county matchup, a 44-34 win over Liberty, the only team to beat Man Valley this season. Coach Heather Dewees had her Mavericks team at 12-1 by the end of the week, and ranked #12 in the Balto-Metro area, with Carmaya a big part of a big week.

Caleb Franze

Gerstell

Basketball

A 5-08 point guard for Gerstell Academy, Caleb scored 39 pts in the Falcons’ overtime loss to Archbishop Curley and followed that up with 23 more in a road win against Friends School – 62 points for the week for Coach Jeff Cheevers’ boys basketball squad. Caleb, a sophomore leading a young team, is known for his ability to handle the basketball and finish at the rim. From the point, Caleb is averaging 17.5 ppg.

Athlete of the Week - January 19th, 2022

Mia Graff

Century

Basketball

Mia Graff, a junior guard for the Knights girls basketball team. The Knights picked up three victories and Mia excelled, contributing two double-double performances: 15p and 10r against Aberdeen, and then 20p 13 boards and 4 steals against South Carroll. Forty-two points for the week and a (9-1) record for Century.

Ryan Rill

Francis Scott Key

Basketball

Ryan Rill has been the focus of attention for opposing defenses for awhile now, and with good reason. Ryan contributed to three wins for the Eagles boys basketball squad by scoring 83 pts, grabbing 29 rebs, and blocking 10 shots. That’s an average of 27.7p 9.9r and 3.3b a game., a slight bit better than his already impressive 24.4 ppg for the season. The senior forward is closing in on a milestone 1,000 points for his Eagles career. That’s Key’s veteran head coach Ryan Kimble who adds that Ryan has led the way in crafting a team of mature players.

Travis Green

Manchester Valley

Wrestling

Travis Green wrestled in the 145 pound weight class for Man Valley last week and went 9-0. He began his week with a fall at the 3:57 mark against his WM opponent, and then at the Rebel Duals tournament in South Hagerstown, he went 8-0 and was selected by the contingent of coaches as the “Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament.” Among his victories he faced two state-ranked wrestlers, notching a tech fall and a pin. For Travis it’s all about attitude. Three pins, a major decision, and a tech fall over 8 victorious matches to take him to (22-1) on the year. Coach David Dodson talks about his junior who is ranked #11 in the state at 145

Athlete of the Week - January 12th, 2022

Eva Brandt

Century

Basketball

Eva is a senior forward for the Knights girls basketball team, and she had a pair of double-double performances last week: 12p and 10r in a loss to Man Valley, and earlier in the week led Century in a victory over Francis Scott Key with a monster game – 14p, 25r, and 6 blocks. Eva’s been one of the strongest rebounders in the county for four years now [3]. Eva remembers her freshman year, when the Knights failed to win a county game, and now in her senior year her squad stands at (7-1) [4]. Knights head coach Danielle Fieni says she’s been watching that tremendous growth season by season [1 & 2].